The Portland daily press., 1887-11-05
THE REPORTER,
BY ELEANOR CoRBET.
frank Leslie,s.,


ing largely with society's doings and sayings
as we'll as with all the literary. musical and
dramatic happenings of the day. The edito,
ana nus assistants were up to their ears In
work, but the chief had but just arrived. and
with pleasant word of greeting had passed
on to his private sanctum. An elegant and
distinguished man this Ernest Warren. the
proprietor, general director and handspring
OF the fourishing weekly which his father
hau ieft TO him as part Of his inheritance
and. moreover, had supplemented it by a
very pretty fortune, which at once lifted this
dear, only son from the ranks of struggling
Journalists, and made of him, had he SO
chosen, gentleman of elegant leisure But
this was contrary to all Ernest's inclinations.
AT no time was he disposed to life of mere
idle luxury; and though he had the entree
into the best society of the city, and was by
no means ayerse to enjoying the same, he
had never, in the five years since his fathers
death, neglected the interests of the Record.
nor withdrawn himself from the general
supervision OF all its details. See him now.
as he stands at his desk, running over the
mornings correspondence. A man not much
under forty; tall and strongly built, with
steady gray eyes, dark hair and mustache
and general air of yigor and determination
about him which at once inspires confidence
In the beholder, and makes women and chill
dren feel that in him would be found a very
seryiceable protector, should occasion arise
On this busy morning the letters did not
seem to require much consideration. and
when the last one had been consigned to the
waste-basket, Mr. Warren stepped to the
door Of the outer Office. and inquired;
"Hanly, has Miss Ogden been in this
morning?"
mot yet sir"
VERY well. Ask her to speak with ME as
soon as she comes"
Ten minutes later, and brisk, business
like young woman presented herself at his
door.
An, Miss Ogden, good-morning. | was
just lnquiring for you. / suppose you have
your days programme pretty we'll laid out /;
want you to take in some evening work.
MRS. Rossiter gives reception tonight, and
requests that representative of the Record
be present-if possible. lady, in order that
the costumes may be correctly described.
For, as she politely remarks, Men generally
they have some woman to coach them
Now. can you be there in the ladies' dress
ing-room, say about ten o'clock, and remain
as long as there are any arrivals to take
notes Off" He-'ttt
Miss Ogden hesitated. This was some
thing she hadn't bargained for. To sit I'M
Till all honrs Of the night reading and criti-
cising new books; to run around to the shops
Tor fashion items and novelties; to assist at
all the opening days." attend matinees,
and even to interview an actress occasionally
why, all these came into the days work.
But this that Mr.. Warren was proposing
would be a new departure to her, and rather
CALLING to that pride of which, although a
sensible young woman, she had fair
amount And so the prompt and cheerful
acquiescence which was her usual answer to
her employer halted on her lips.
well, said he, kindly, ''do you mind IL so
very much? Why, then must send one of
boys, suppose"
Now there were several reasons why Sara
Ogden felt very kindly toward Ernest War
rem, and was more than willing to study his
wishes. In the first place he pleased her
fancy, with his manly bearing and his unya-
rying Difference and cordiality; secondly. he
seemed to give her credit for possessing as
good reasoning powers and clear Judgment
as though she were a man and many a time
In that snug little office they had held long
and interesting discussions on the topics of
the day, which had sent her home to her
lonely room with pleasant sense ,f mental
cheer and refreshment; and lastly, he had
xunn ltar s&,,l. l. -
to give her trial when she presented her
self as an applicant for work some months
before this busy morning. 1t was an inno-
vation-this employing of a woman for regu-
Lar daily work; and without the chiefs good
work she knew she never could have got a
foothold In the Office Of the Record, ncr a
chance to show what she was capable of.
thinking Of all this, and meeting the look of
appeal In those grave, handsome eyes, she
could not answer him with a refusal. A
word or two signifed her acquiescence in
the proposed arrangements, and won for her |
a beaming smile and hearty "Thank you.
very much, Miss Ogden 1 am sure we
shall now get reliable account of the differ |
ent toilets"
"She doesn't like 1t, that's plain" unused
warren. But she'll do it. A plucky, de |
termined girl, that is-and pretty one She
ought to be going as invited guest, and not |
merely as newspaper reporter. She could
hold her own with most of the society bellies
In face, figure and manners; and a. for
brains, why, she's way ahead there. know
I'd rather be up in the dressing-room talking
to her tonight than down in the ballroom
Waiting with the prettiest bud of the sea
son."
Principally at ten o'clock that evening
Sara entered the dressing-room at Mrs Ros-
siter's. AS she assembled the stairs she had
glimpses Of the drawing-room and picture
gallery. which tonight was devoted to the
dancers. Both were brilliant with lights and |
fragrant with flowers, but as yet were un- |
tenanted. "A brief interview was accorded |
her, as representative of the Record. by the |
hostess and her daughter, who were desir
GUS OF seeing their own elaborate Partisan |
costumes fully described; and then she was |
permitted to esconce herself in a snug corner /
at the side Of the large mirror, where she /
could pass In review each toilet, while the |
fair wearer thereof took last fond glance
at her own charms before submitting them
to general criticism.
Sara had made no attempt at evening |
dress; but she could not help being a very /
pleasant object as she sat there in her we'll
made, dark-blue camel's-hair and velvet
Sunday gown, lighted up by bunch of car
nations; her dark, glossy hair piled up in
soft, wayy mass, and her flushed cheeks
giving new brilliancy to the clear, wide
awake eyes. which looked as though no de-
tails could escape their notice.
Presently the room began to fill up, and
the great mirror reflected one radiant vision
after another; and Sara's hands and eyes
were so busy taking notes that she lost all
and was oblivious of the
curious glances now and then cast in her
direction. One group gave place to another.
and there was no time to study faces; the
general effect and material of costume was
all she could grasp-the wearer was but an
animated lsy-fgure to the busy reporter in
The corner.
But after while there was lull in the
arrivals, AID the latest corners, group of
pretty, stylish girls, who seemed to be all
IN Intimate terms, fingered and chatted
together, and seemed to be in no haste to |
descend. Sara had given to each her line